REPORTColeshill Town secured Runners Up spot in the Midland Football League, Premier Division to cap a fantastic season!

Coleshill beat old rivals Highgate United in a very hard fought win with a single goal scored by Mykel Beckley on the hour mark. The Colemen had been the dominant force in the early stages and would have been at least a couple of goals ahead had it not been for the wood-work and an impressive goalkeeper. But Gate came more into the game as time moved on and hit the post a couple of times themselves. The goal came when Dean Rathbone lifted the ball over the home defence, Tom Weale then lifted the ball over the goalkeeper, and as the ball trickled towards goal Mykel Beckley made sure with a tap in. Giovanni Dainty was sent off late on after a second yellow card and it was backs to the wall stuff, but Coleshill held on for their 27th league win.

Coleshill started well! Dean Rathbone and Tom Weale combined to set up Reece Leek whose shot hit the post and came straight back into the goalkeepers arms, a Rob Evans header from a Tom Weale corner hit the side netting and then a Weale long throw was half cleared to Dean Rathbone who saw his volley well saved at the foot of the post. Manning tried to lob Town keeper Paul Hathaway from 25 yards unsuccessfully. A Tom Weale ball into the box was volleyed by Mykel Beckley but Brendan Bunn tipped the ball over the bar, then Tom Weale tried to lob the keeper from 7 yards but Bunn only just got a finger to the ball and then seconds later Weale's shot cannoned off the bar. How Coleshill didn't score during this period was mystifying! The home team slowly came into the game and captain Hawker saw his side foot shot deflected for a corner then a long throw in was flicked on at the near post to Lei Brown who saw his overhead kick come back off the bar. Paul Hathaway did well to push an effort from Martin away from the foot of the post and Arron Brown headed wide from a Pulisciano cross as the half finished goalless despite numerous chances.

The second half was much more even, all action, end to end. Lei Brown headed just over the bar from a Pulisciano cross and then lobbed the ball over the bar from a Arron Brown flick on before Coleshill took the lead just after the hour mark. Dean Rathbone lifted the ball over the home defence for the running Tom Weale. Weale helped the ball on past the keeper and Mykel Beckley made sure by tapping into an empty net. A stray back pass saw Hathaway and Manning clash on the edge of the box and there was a lengthy delay. Highgate then piled on the pressure in search of an equaliser. Martin hit the post from the edge of the box before Gio Dainty was sent off for a second bookable offence. This was real backs to the wall stuff! Gate pushed forward but the Coleshill defence stood strong and even had a couple of chances on the break but there was no more scoring and Coleshill took the points which means they now can't be caught for second place.

Mykel Beckley's 61st minute goal was all that separated these two old foes at the end of an entertaining and keenly fought local derby, the win confirming Coleshill as league runners up to champions Alvechurch. The defeat puts to an end Highgate's previous twelve match unbeaten run and although a draw might have been a fairer result Gate remain in ninth place with just Saturday's home fixture against Coventry Sphinx to come. Needing the three points to ensure themselves a second place finish Town started strongly and with Gate struggling to retain any meaningful possession the first twenty five minutes were dominated by the visitors. Richard Bryan had an early let off with a back pass struck against the foot of Brendon Bunn's left hand post, coming straight back into the keeper's hands, Robert Evans heading a Thomas Weale corner into the side netting and Bunn making two excellent saves in quick succession to deny Beckley and Weale. A Dean Rathbone header smacked against the woodwork and with just twenty minutes gone the visitors could easily have been two goals ahead, Gate distinctly second best against a very good footballing side. Gradually though the hosts were to steady themselves and having survived considerable early pressure worked themselves back into the game, Josh Hawker having a good attempt deflected behind and after Aaron Brown had headed on Orrin Pendley's long throw Lei Brown's overhead kick beat keeper Paul Hathaway only to strike the underside of the cross bar. The pressure was now on Coleshill, Scott Turner heading a Hawker free kick into Hathaway's hands Hawker himself then guiding Romario Martin's square pass the wrong side of the post, the half ending goalless but with both sides having had the opportunities to break the deadlock.

H-T Highgate United 0 v 0 Coleshill Town

Gate made a promising start to the second half, Hathaway holding on to Pendley's firmly driven cross and Manning slipping a pass through caught under Martin's feet. Nathan Pulisciano set up Manning for a cross headed over by Lei Brown, Trevor Edwards winning the ball in midfield to go on a solo run eventually closed down by a couple of back pedalling defenders. Gate were at last playing some decent possession football but after Edwards had seen a drive deflected narrowly wide Gate were to be caught on the break Weale's shot striking the foot of Bunn's right hand post and forced in by Beckley following up. Gate continued in search of what was to prove an elusive equaliser, Martin and Aaron Brown both testing Hathaway from distance, Lei Brown then breaking down the left leaving Martin with a chance struck against the foot of Hathaway's right hand upright. A second yellow for Giovanni Dainty saw the visitors reduced to ten men but Gate unable to take advantage, going closest when Bryan's low drive was deflected behind for a corner from which Martin was to hit the woodwork for a second time, Gate finishing strongly after such a poor start to the contest but unable to reap the point their overall performance deserved.